A Discreet Wearable IoT Sensor for Continuous Transdermal Alcohol Monitoring - Challenges and Opportunities.

Non-invasive continuous alcohol (ethanol) monitoring has potential applications in both population research and in clinical management of acute alcohol intoxication or chronic alcoholism. Current wearable monitors based on transdermal alcohol content (TAC) sensing have limited accessibility and blood alcohol content (BAC) quantification accuracy. Here we describe the development of a self-contained discreet wearable transdermal alcohol (TAC) sensor in the form of a wristband or armband. This sensor can detect vapor-phase alcohol in perspiration from 0.09 ppm (equivalent to 0.09 mg/dL sweat alcohol concentration at 25 °C under Henry's Law equilibrium) to over 500 ppm at one-minute time resolution. Additionally, a digital sensor was employed to monitor the temperature and humidity levels inside the sensing chamber. Two male human subjects were recruited to conduct studies with alcohol consumption using calibrated prototype TAC sensors to validate the performance. Our preliminary data demonstrated that, under well-controlled conditions, this sensor can acquire TAC curves at low doses (1-2 standard drinks). Moreover, TAC data for different doses can be easily distinguished. However, substantial interpersonal and intrapersonal variabilities in measurement data were also observed in experiments with less controlled conditions. Our observations suggest that perspiration rate might be an important contributing factor to these variabilities. Further studies with sufficient sample sizes are required to validate and characterize the impact of different perspiration rates on TAC sensors, which may inform more reproducible and accurate sensor designs in the future.

Video capsule endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the emergency department: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The assessment of the severity of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in emergency department (ED) patients is difficult to assess with commonly available diagnostic tools. Small studies have shown that video capsule endoscopy (VCE) is a promising risk-stratification method and may be better than current clinical decision rules such as the Rockall score and the Glasgow Blatchford score. This review aims to assess the accuracy of VCE to detect active upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage compared to a reference standard. METHODS: The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology was used to perform a review of studies that have measured the diagnostic accuracy of VCE. Studies were included if they measured ED use of VCE for upper GI hemorrhage as compared to a reference standard of an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). A meta-analysis was performed on select patients using a fixed effects and random-effects model to determine the primary outcome of diagnostic test accuracy. RESULTS: 40 studies were screened for eligibility and five studies representing 193 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients received both a VCE and an EGD. The sensitivity and specificity of VCE were 0.724 and 0.748, respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio was 6.29 (95% CI: 3.23-12.25) and the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.782. CONCLUSIONS: VCE demonstrated high accuracy for detecting upper GI hemorrhage in this meta-analysis of existing studies. In light of the potential advantages of VCE in the ED, further research is warranted to further establish its role.

Management of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Guideline Recommendations From the International Consensus Group.

Description: This update of the 2010 International Consensus Recommendations on the Management of Patients With Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding (UGIB) refines previous important statements and presents new clinically relevant recommendations. Methods: An international multidisciplinary group of experts developed the recommendations. Data sources included evidence summarized in previous recommendations, as well as systematic reviews and trials identified from a series of literature searches of several electronic bibliographic databases from inception to April 2018. Using an iterative process, group members formulated key questions. Two methodologists prepared evidence profiles and assessed quality (certainty) of evidence relevant to the key questions according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. Group members reviewed the evidence profiles and, using a consensus process, voted on recommendations and determined the strength of recommendations as strong or conditional. Recommendations: Preendoscopic management: The group suggests using a Glasgow Blatchford score of 1 or less to identify patients at very low risk for rebleeding, who may not require hospitalization. In patients without cardiovascular disease, the suggested hemoglobin threshold for blood transfusion is less than 80 g/L, with a higher threshold for those with cardiovascular disease. Endoscopic management: The group suggests that patients with acute UGIB undergo endoscopy within 24 hours of presentation. Thermocoagulation and sclerosant injection are recommended, and clips are suggested, for endoscopic therapy in patients with high-risk stigmata. Use of TC-325 (hemostatic powder) was suggested as temporizing therapy, but not as sole treatment, in patients with actively bleeding ulcers. Pharmacologic management: The group recommends that patients with bleeding ulcers with high-risk stigmata who have had successful endoscopic therapy receive high-dose proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy (intravenous loading dose followed by continuous infusion) for 3 days. For these high-risk patients, continued oral PPI therapy is suggested twice daily through 14 days, then once daily for a total duration that depends on the nature of the bleeding lesion. Secondary prophylaxis: The group suggests PPI therapy for patients with previous ulcer bleeding who require antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy for cardiovascular prophylaxis.

Racial and ethnic disparities in the management of acute pain in US emergency departments: Meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This review aims to quantify the effect of minority status on analgesia use for acute pain management in US Emergency Department (ED) settings. METHODS: We used the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology to perform a review of studies from 1990 to 2018 comparing racial and ethnic differences in the administration of analgesia for acute pain. Studies were included if they measured analgesia use in white patients compared to a racial minority in the ED and studies were excluded if they focused primarily on chronic pain, case reports and survey studies. Following data abstraction, a meta-analysis was performed using fixed and random-effect models to determine primary outcome of analgesia administration stratified by racial and ethnic classification. RESULTS: 763 articles were screened for eligibility and fourteen studies met inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis. The total study population included 7070 non-Hispanic White patients, 1538 Hispanic, 3125 Black, and 50.3% female. Black patients were less likely than white to receive analgesia for acute pain: OR 0.60 [95%-CI, 0.43-0.83, random effects model]. Hispanics were also less likely to receive analgesia: OR 0.75 [95%-CI, 0.52-1.09]. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the presence of racial disparities in analgesia use for the management of acute pain in US EDs. Further research is needed to examine patient reported outcomes in addition to the presence of disparities in other groups besides Black and Hispanic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number CRD42018104697 in PROSPERO.

Assessing the CT findings and clinical course of ED patients with first-time versus recurrent acute pancreatitis.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to compare Emergency Department patients with first-time versus recurrent acute pancreatitis. METHODS: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis who presented to a single academic urban emergency department from 2012 to 2016. Criteria for inclusion were clinical symptoms of pancreatitis, age greater than or equal to 18 years, ED diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, and an abdominal CT scan within 24 h of triage. Exclusion criteria were traumatic mechanism and pregnancy. Charts were reviewed by a minimum of two trained abstractors using structured data collection sheets and discrepancies were resolved by a third abstractor. Patients with first time acute pancreatitis versus recurrent acute pancreatitis were compared to determine differences in characteristics, management and disposition. RESULTS: 250 patients were included in the study. Of these, 165 patients had first-time acute pancreatitis and 85 patients had recurrent acute pancreatitis. Demographics, vital signs and initial lab values were the same in both groups. Patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis were more likely to have significant findings on CT (Modified CT Severity Index, 2.09 versus 1.43, p < 0.05), more likely to require IV opiates (96% versus 75%, p < 0.001) and less likely to need ICU admission (8% versus 19%, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: ED patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis demonstrated more significant findings on CT compared to patients with first-time acute pancreatitis but were less likely to require ICU admission.

Exploring the attitudes & practices of shared decision-making for CT scan use in emergency department patients with abdominal pain.

BACKGROUND: Shared decision-making (SDM) has been studied in the emergency department (ED) in relation to hospital admissions but not for CT scan utilization. CT scans are a common imaging modality with high accuracy that emit considerable ionizing radiation. This study has three aims: to measure provider and patient preference for SDM; to evaluate patient involvement in the decision to order a CT scan; and to determine the association between patient involvement and CT utilization. METHODS: In this prospective study, stable ED patients with abdominal pain with CT imaging as a likely diagnostic tool, were screened and consented. The Control Preferences Scale assessed patient and provider baseline decision-making preference. Using the OPTION-5 tool, providers were assessed in each encounter for the extent to which they engaged patients in discussions. The association between the Control Preferences Scale, the OPTION-5 score and ultimate CT utilization was evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-nine encounters were observed. CT was considered in 70% (n = 20) of encounters and ordered in 55% (n = 16). 62% of patients and 59% of providers reported that they prefer "shared responsibility" when making treatment decisions. In >80% of encounters, provider's showed no or minimal effort when discussing whether to perform a CT scan. Provider or patient preference was not associated with patient involvement. Patient involvement was not associated with CT utilization. CONCLUSIONS: High rates of provider and patient preference to use SDM for treatment plans were reported but providers were rarely observed engaging patients with abdominal pain in the decision to order a CT scan.

Reducing mortality in near-hanging patients with a novel early management protocol.

BACKGROUND: Hanging is one of the most common causes of suicide world-wide, more prevalent in developing countries. There are no established protocols for early management of near-hanging patients who present to the emergency department (ED). The use of early intubation, strict blood pressure control and targeted temperature management has shown promise in small studies. OBJECTIVE: To detect changes in mortality and neurological deficits in near-hanging patients before and after implementation of a novel early management protocol in a tertiary care hospital in India. METHODS: Prospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary-care hospital in Tamil Nadu, India from August 2014-July 2016. For first year of study (pre-implementation), near-hanging patients were treated without a structured protocol. For second year of study (post-implementation), near-hanging patients were treated per a protocol including early intubation, strict blood pressure control and targeted temperature management. Primary outcomes included: (1) in-hospital mortality and (2) hospital discharge without neurological deficit. RESULTS: 65 patients were included (27 in the pre-implementation phase and 38 in the post-implementation phase.) At presentation, there was no difference between the two groups in mean heart rate, mean arterial pressure, mean oxygen saturation, Glasgow coma score, or mean respiratory rate. Protocol implementation decreased mortality (10/27 (37%) versus 2/38 (5%), P < 0.05) and increased the number of patients discharged without neurological deficit (10/27 (37%) versus 35/38 (92%), P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This novel early management protocol reduced mortality and increased the number discharged without neurological deficit in near-hanging patients in a single tertiary care center in India.

Nasogastric decompression not associated with a reduction in surgery or bowel ischemia for acute small bowel obstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Small bowel obstructions (SBOs) occur 300,000 times annually leading to $1.3 billion in cost. Approximately 20% of patients require a laparotomy to manage the obstruction and either prevent or treat intestinal ischemia. Early management may play a role in reducing these complications. Nasogastric decompression is commonly used for early management. Our primary objective was to determine if NGD was associated with lower rates of surgery, bowel ischemia or length of stay. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 181 ED patients with SBO from 9/2013 to 9/2015 in order to determine if nasogastric decompression was associated with a reduction in rates of surgery, bowel ischemia or hospital length of stay. RESULTS: Our subject population was 46% female, median age of 60.27% of patients received surgery. Nasogastric decompression was used in 51% of patients. There was no association with a reduction in rates of surgery (p=0.20) or bowel resection (p=0.41) with patients receiving Nasogastric decompression, and no difference in baseline characteristics. Nasogastric decompression was associated with a two-day increase in hospital length of stay. Factors that were significantly associated with surgical exploration of SBO were: female (OR 2.32 (95% CI: 1.01-5.31)) and "definite SBO" on CT (OR 3.29 (95% CI: 1.18-9.20)). Abnormal vital signs, obstipation, and lab values were not predictors of surgery. CONCLUSION: Nasogastric decompression is not associated with a reduction in need for surgery or bowel resection, but is associated with a 2-day increase in median LOS. Women were more likely to receive surgery than men.

Treating Gastritis, Peptic Ulcer Disease, and Dyspepsia in the Emergency Department: The Feasibility and Patient-Reported Outcomes of Testing and Treating for Helicobacter pylori Infection.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection is a known cause of gastritis, dyspepsia, and peptic ulcer disease. Testing for infection is indicated in high-prevalence outpatient settings. The objective of this prospective cohort study is to examine the feasibility of a test-and-treat strategy in the emergency department (ED) setting. METHODS: During a 13-month period at an academic ED, symptomatic patients underwent a point-of-care urea breath test (BreathID; Exalenz Bioscience Inc., Modiin, Israel) during the ED visit. Research assistants abstracted treatment information from the electronic medical record. Patients who tested positive were prescribed triple-therapy medication. All enrollees were telephoned 2 weeks after the index ED visit to ascertain symptom resolution and treatment compliance. H pylori-positive subjects were asked to return to the ED for retest. Risk differences in patient and clinical characteristics were compared by H pylori infection status, and a paired t test was used to estimate differences in pain resolution at the ED visit and follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 465 symptomatic patients, 271 were eligible and 212 enrolled and were tested for H pylori. Forty-nine patients (23%) (95% confidence interval [CI] 18% to 30%) had a positive result, 33 of 49 (67%) (95% CI 53% to 79%) self-reported receiving the medication as prescribed at follow-up, 23 of 49 (47%) (95% CI 34% to 61%) were retested, and 20 of 49 (41%) (95% CI 28% to 55%) had a negative result. There was a significant reduction in pain severity, regardless of H pylori infection status. CONCLUSION: A test-and-treat strategy is feasible in the ED setting and could benefit symptomatic patients.

The cost-effectiveness analysis of video capsule endoscopy compared to other strategies to manage acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the ED.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage is a common presentation in hospital-based emergency departments (EDs). A novel diagnostic approach is to use video capsule endoscopy to directly visualize the upper GI tract and identify bleeding. Our objective was to evaluate and compare the relative costs and benefits of video capsule endoscopy compared to other strategies in low- to moderate-risk ED patients with acute upper GI hemorrhage. METHODS: We constructed a model using standard decision analysis software to examine the cost-effectiveness of 4 available strategies for a base-case patient who presents to the ED with either mild- or moderate-risk scenarios (by Glasgow-Blatchford Score) for requiring invasive hemostatic intervention (ie, endoscopic, surgical, etc) The 4 available diagnostic strategies were (1) direct imaging with video capsule endoscopy performed in the ED; (2) risk stratification using the Glasgow-Blatchford score; (3) nasogastric tube placement; and, finally, (4) an admit-all strategy. RESULTS: In the low-risk scenario, video capsule endoscopy was the preferred strategy (cost $5691, 14.69 quality-adjusted life years [QALYs]) and was more cost-effective than the remaining strategies including nasogastric tube strategy (cost $8159, 14.69 QALYs), risk stratification strategy (cost $10,695, 14.69 QALYs), and admit-all strategy (cost $22,766, 14.68 QALYs). In the moderate-risk scenario, video capsule endoscopy continued to be the preferred strategy (cost $9190, 14.56 QALYs) compared to nasogastric tube (cost $9487, 14.58 QALYs, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio $15,891) and more cost effective than admit-all strategy (cost, $22,584, 14.54 QALYs.) CONCLUSION: Video capsule endoscopy may be cost-effective for low- and moderate-risk patients presenting to the ED with acute upper GI hemorrhage.

Analysis of cardiac anomalies in VACTERL association.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is estimated to affect between 3 and 5% of all newborns. Extra-cardiac malformations are observed in 7 to 50% of patients with CHD. One relatively well-known association that can occur in the context of CHD is VACTERL. Controversy still remains regarding the definition of VATER association and its expansion to VACTERL, the appropriate diagnostic criteria and the overall incidence. METHODS: We conducted a description of a case series to characterize the cardiac findings present in a cohort of patients meeting the criteria for VACTERL association. RESULTS: Forty-six of 220 were eligible for inclusion into the study, 67% (31 of 46) had CHD. The most common CHD was ventricular septal defect, present in 18 of 31 patients (58%). There was no statistically significant association between CHD severity and the presence or absence of other VACTERL component features, specifically anorectal malformation (p = 0.18) or tracheo-esophageal fistula (p = 0.72). CHD presence also did not correlate with the presence of tracheo-esophageal fistula or anorectal malformation. CONCLUSION: Although this study does not, by design, provide further evidence toward the questions of whether CHD is a defining feature of VACTERL association, the frequency of CHD in our cohort does lend support to it being an important medical consideration in patients with VACTERL association. Based on our experience, we strongly recommend a screening echocardiogram to evaluate for CHD in individuals with a potential diagnosis of VACTERL association.

Poor sensitivity of a modified Alvarado score in adults with suspected appendicitis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: A clinical decision rule that identifies patients at low risk for appendicitis may reduce the reliance on computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis. We seek to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of a low modified Alvarado score in emergency department (ED) patients with suspected appendicitis and compare the score to clinical judgment. We hypothesize that a low modified Alvarado score will have a sufficiently high sensitivity to rule out acute appendicitis. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study of adult patients with suspected appendicitis at 2 academic urban EDs. A low modified Alvarado score was defined as less than 4. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI) for a low modified Alvarado score, and a final diagnosis of appendicitis was confirmed by CT, laparotomy, or 7-day follow-up. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-one patients were included for analysis (mean age 35 years [range 18 to 89 years], 68% female patients, 52% white). Fifty-three patients (20%) had acute appendicitis. The modified Alvarado score test characteristics demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 72% (95% CI 58% to 84%) and 54% (95% CI 47% to 61%), respectively. Unstructured clinical judgment that appendicitis was either the most likely or second most likely diagnosis demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 93% (95% CI 82% to 98%) and 33% (95% CI 27% to 40%), respectively. CONCLUSION: With a sensitivity of 72%, a low modified Alvarado score is less sensitive than clinical judgment in excluding acute appendicitis.

Video capsule endoscopy in the emergency department: a prospective study of acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Video capsule endoscopy has been used to diagnose gastrointestinal hemorrhage and other small bowel diseases but has not been tested in an emergency department (ED) setting. The objectives in this pilot study are to demonstrate the ability of emergency physicians to detect blood in the upper gastrointestinal tract with capsule endoscopy after a short training period, measure ED patient acceptance of capsule endoscopy, and estimate the test characteristics of capsule endoscopy to detect acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. METHODS: During a 6-month period at a single academic hospital, eligible patients underwent video capsule endoscopy (Pillcam Eso2; Given Imaging) in the ED. Video images were reviewed by 4 blinded physicians (2 emergency physicians with brief training in capsule endoscopy interpretation and 2 gastroenterologists with capsule endoscopy experience). RESULTS: A total of 25 subjects with acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage were enrolled. There was excellent agreement between gastroenterologists and emergency physicians for the presence of fresh or coffee-ground blood (0.96 overall agreement; κ=0.90). Capsule endoscopy was well tolerated by 96% of patients and showed an 88% sensitivity (95% confidence interval 65% to 100%) and 64% specificity (95% confidence interval 35% to 92%) for the detection of fresh blood. Capsule endoscopy missed 1 bleeding lesion located in the postpyloric region, which was not imaged because of expired battery life. CONCLUSION: Video capsule endoscopy is a sensitive way to identify upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the ED. It is well tolerated and there is excellent agreement in interpretation between gastroenterologists and emergency physicians.

Pre-endoscopic Rockall and Blatchford scores to identify which emergency department patients with suspected gastrointestinal bleed do not need endoscopic hemostasis.

BACKGROUND: The pre-endoscopic Rockall Score (RS) and the Glasgow-Blatchford Scores (GBS) can help risk stratify patients with upper gastrointestinal bleed who are seen in the Emergency Department (ED). The RS and GBS have yet to be validated in a United States patient population for their ability to discriminate which ED patients with upper gastrointestinal bleed do not need endoscopic hemostasis. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether patients who received a score of zero on either score (the lowest risk) in the ED still required upper endoscopic hemostasis during hospitalization. METHODS: Retrospective electronic medical record chart review was performed during a 3-year period (2007-2009) to identify patients with suspected upper gastrointestinal bleed by ED final diagnosis of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and related terms at a single urban academic ED. The RS and GBS were calculated from ED chart abstraction and the hospital records of admitted patients were queried for subsequent endoscopic hemostasis. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety patients with gastrointestinal bleed were identified and 86% were admitted to the hospital. One hundred and twenty-two patients had an RS equal to zero; 67 (55%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 46-63%) of these patients were admitted to the hospital and 11 (16%; 95% CI 9-27%) received endoscopic hemostasis. Sixty-three patients had a GBS equal to zero; 15 (24%; 95% CI 15-36%) were admitted to the hospital and 2 (13%; 95% CI 4-38%) received endoscopic hemostasis. CONCLUSIONS: Some patients who were identified as lowest risk by the GBS or RS still received endoscopic hemostasis during hospital admission. These clinical decision rules may be insufficiently sensitive to predict which patients do not require endoscopic hemostasis.

Biliary colic in the emergency department: A state-wide analysis of one-year costs and clinical outcomes.

Importance: Approximately 335,000 cases of biliary colic present to US emergency departments (EDs) annually, and most patients without complications are discharged from the ED. It is unknown what are the subsequent surgery rates, subsequent complications of biliary disease, ED revisits, repeat hospitalizations and cost; and, how does the ED disposition decision (admission versus discharge) affect long-term outcomes. Objective: To determine whether there is a difference in one-year surgery rates, complications of biliary disease, ED revisits, repeat hospitalizations, and cost in ED patients with uncomplicated biliary colic who are admitted to the hospital versus those that are discharged from the ED. Design setting and participants: A retrospective observational study was conducted using records collected from the Maryland Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) in the Ambulatory Surgery, the Inpatient, and the ED setting between 2016 and 2018. After applying inclusion criteria, 7036 ED patients with uncomplicated biliary colic were followed for one year after their index ED visit for repeat healthcare utilization across multiple settings. A multivariable logistic regression study was performed to asses for risk factors for surgery allocation and hospital admission. Medicare Relative Value Units (RVUs) and HCUP Cost-Charge Ratio files were used to estimate direct costs. Exposures: Episodes of biliary colic were ascertained using ICD-10 codes at the index ED visit. Main outcomes and measures: The primary outcome was the one-year surgery rate, defined as a cholecystectomy. Secondary outcomes included the rate of new acute cholecystitis or other related complications, ED revisits, hospital admission and costs. Associations with hospital admission and surgeries were measured using adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % CIs. Results: Of the 7036 patients analyzed, 793 (11.3 %) were admitted and 6243 (88.7 %) were discharged on their initial ED visit. When comparing the groups who were initially admitted versus discharged, we observed similar one-year cholecystectomy rates (42 % versus 43 %, mean difference 0.5 %, 95 % CI -3.1 %-4.2 %; P < 0.001), lower rates of new cholecystitis occurrences (18 % versus 41 %, mean difference 23 %, 95 % CI, 20 %-26 %; P < 0.001), lower rates of ED revisits (96 vs 198 per 1000 patients, mean difference 102, 95 % CI, 74-130; P < 0.001) and higher costs ($9880 versus $1832, mean difference 8048, 95 % CI, 7478-8618; P < 0.001). Initial ED hospital admission was associated with increased age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.44; 95 % CI, 1.35-1.53; P < 0.001), obesity (aOR, 1.38; 95 % CI, 1.32-1.44; P < 0.001), ischemic heart disease (aOR, 1.39; 95 % CI, 1.30-1.48; P < 0.001), mood disorders (aOR, 1.18; 95 % CI, 1.13-1.24; P < 0.001), alcohol-related disorders (aOR, 1.20; 95 % CI, 1.12-1.27; P < 0.001), hyperlipidemia (aOR, 1.16; 95 % CI, 1.09-1.23; P < 0.001), hypertension (aOR, 1.15; 95 % CI, 1.08-1.21; P < 0.001), and nicotine dependence (aOR, 1.09; 95 % CI, 1.03-1.15; P = 0.003) but not associated with race (P > 0.9), ethnicity (P > 0.9), or income-stratified zip code (aOR, 1.04; 95 % CI, 0.98-1.09; P = 0.17). Conclusions and relevance: In our analysis of ED patients with uncomplicated biliary colic from a single state, the majority of patients do not receive a cholecystectomy within one year and hospital admission at the initial visit was not associated with an overall change in rates of cholecystectomy but was associated with increased costs. These findings inform our understanding of the long-term outcomes and are important considerations when communicating care options with ED patients with biliary colic.

Diagnostic accuracy of novel mRNA blood biomarkers of infection to predict outcomes in emergency department patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain.

Abdominal pain represents greater than 20% of US Emergency Department (ED) visits due to a wide range of illnesses. There are currently no reliable blood biomarkers to predict serious outcomes in patients with abdominal pain. Our previous studies have identified three mRNA transcripts related to innate immune activation: alkaline phosphatase (ALPL), interleukin-8 receptor-ß (IL8RB), and defensin-1 (DEFA1) as promising candidates to detect an intra-abdominal infection. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of these mRNA biomarkers to predict likely infection, hospitalization and surgery in Emergency Department patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain. We prospectively enrolled Emergency Department patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain who received an abdominal CT scan as part of their evaluation. Clinical outcomes were abstracted from the CT scan and medical records. mRNA biomarker levels were calculated independent of the clinical outcomes and their accuracy was assessed to predict infectious diagnoses, surgery and hospital admission. 89 patients were enrolled; 21 underwent surgery; 47 underwent hospital admission; and, no deaths were observed within 30 days. In identifying which cases were likely infectious, mRNA biomarkers' AUC values were: ALPL, 0.83; DEFA1 0.51; IL8RB, 0.74; and ALPL + IL8RB, 0.79. In predicting which Emergency Department patients would receive surgery, the AUC values were: ALPL, 0.75; DEFA1, 0.58; IL8RB, 0.75; and ALPL + IL8RB, 0.76. In predicting hospital admission, the AUC values were: ALPL, 0.78; DEFA1, 0.52; IL8RB, 0.74; and, ALPL + IL8RB, 0.77. For predicting surgery, ALPL + IL8RB's positive likelihood ratio (LR) was 3.97; negative LR (NLR) was 0.70. For predicting hospital admission, the same marker's positive LR was 2.80 with an NLR of 0.45. Where the primary cause for admission was a potentially infectious disorder, 33 of 34 cases (97%) had positive RNA scores. In a pragmatic, prospective diagnostic accuracy trial in Emergency Department patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain, mRNA biomarkers showed good accuracy to identify patients with potential infection, as well as those needing surgery or hospital admission.

Observational study of organisational responses of 17 US hospitals over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has required significant modifications of hospital care. The objective of this study was to examine the operational approaches taken by US hospitals over time in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a prospective observational study of 17 geographically diverse US hospitals from February 2020 to February 2021. OUTCOMES AND ANALYSIS: We identified 42 potential pandemic-related strategies and obtained week-to-week data about their use. We calculated descriptive statistics for use of each strategy and plotted percent uptake and weeks used. We assessed the relationship between strategy use and hospital type, geographic region and phase of the pandemic using generalised estimating equations (GEEs), adjusting for weekly county case counts. RESULTS: We found heterogeneity in strategy uptake over time, some of which was associated with geographic region and phase of pandemic. We identified a body of strategies that were both commonly used and sustained over time, for example, limiting staff in COVID-19 rooms and increasing telehealth capacity, as well as those that were rarely used and/or not sustained, for example, increasing hospital bed capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic varied in resource intensity, uptake and duration of use. Such information may be valuable to health systems during the ongoing pandemic and future ones.